Tracker-board and note-sheet mechanism for mechanical musical instruments.



J. OOONNOR. I

TRACKER BOARD AND NOTE SHEET MECHANISM FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1903 926,679 Patented June .29. 1909.

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L. OGONNOEF TRACKER BOARD ANDNOTE SHEET MECHAMSM FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20.1903. 928 679 Patented June 29. 1909.

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TRACKER BOARD AND NOTE SHEET MECHANISM FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1903,

Patented June 29, 1909.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Vi Zinc 33 as JAMES OCONNOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRACKER-B05511) AND NOTE-SHEET MECHANISM FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Lettrs Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed Apri12t), 1903. Serial No. 153,404.

To all 007mm it. may ('ongrrn:

Bo. it known that Tn lnms ()"CoNNon, a oitizon of tho Unitod Statos. and rosidont of Now Ymk,i11 the coun of Now York and State of New York, havo invontod oortain now and usolul 1mprovomonts in 'lraokor- Boards and Noto-Shoot Moohanism fo1'.\lochanioal Musioal .lnstrumonts, ol' whioh tho following is a full, oloar, and oxa-ot spocilio-ation.

This invontion rolatos to tho traokor hoard moohanism ol' inoohzmioally oporatod musioal 'instrumonts and othor instrumoi'its oinploying controlling shoots which aro porl'oratod in aooordanoo with oortain standards or scales.

'lhc ohjoot of tho invontion is to provido moans for using, with tho samo noto shoot moohanism,shoots or rolls of dill'oront stainlards of width and spacing of thoir aotuating perforations, or othor oontrolling dovioos, and to .provido moans whorohy tho ohango to adapt tho moohanism from a shoot of ono standard to that of anothor may ho quickly and oasily niadot" Tho invontion horoin shown and dosorihod as appliod to tho noto shoot mochanisni of an automatically oporatod piano 'playor.

Figuro ot tho drawings is a plan of a portion of an ordinary noto shoot moohanism, the shoot hoing partly out away and showing two traokor hoards of ditl'oront width and soalo, ono of which shown in oporativo relation to tho shoot. Fig.2 is a plan of tho samo moohanisrn showing tho othor traokor hoard in oporativo position, and showing noto. shoot ol oorrosponding soalo in ooonoot-ion therewith. Figs. 3-} aml 4 aro, a sido viow and an ond viow rospootivoly, in onlargod scalo, of part of tho shoot mo hanism, showing ono mothod of providing for tho uso of two or mo" imlopondontly romovahlo traokor hoards.' l igs. 5 and t5 aro similar viows of a modi'liod way of mounting tho tracker hoards. Fi s. 7 and H aro viows of a method for providing for tho uso ol' throo or more traokor hoards in tho samo mochanism. Figs. t] and t0 aro viows ot' anothor modiliod iorm ot tho. apparatus, lig. t)

hoing' an ond view in sootion on tho lino t), t ot H). and Fig. H) hoing a sido vlow.

Figs. 11 and i2 aro viows oi l'urthor modi'lirations, Fig. I] hoing an ond vioiv through tho lino It. Hot Fig. I12, and Fig. I! a sido viow.

'lho sido viows 4. (5, R, It) and 12 oar-h showtho oonstruotion of only ono ond of tho various lm-chanisms, a similar oimstruolioii at tho othor ond hoing undorstood.

'iho two traokor hoards 27 and 2h rost on soats 32 and 33 in tho two swinging hlooks 2t! \vhioh aro pivotally supportod h tho studs :30 appurtonant to tho uprights 2t. (onnortion with tho usual pnoumatir noto sounding dovioos shown in soction in Fig. I, is mado in this caso hy moans of tho ruhhor tuhos 31 whioh aro l'orkod at thoir uppor onds, tho l'ork omls IH'and 35 lilting tho stoms iifi and 3? loading from tho oorrosponding HPOIKTUIOS 3H and .t) in tho two traokor hoards.

In Figs. 1, 3 aml 4, tho trackor hoard 27 is shown in o )orativo rolation to tho shoot 24, tho llill tll covor 4t) hoing thrown l):!t'l\' to oxposo tho aporturos, whilo tho hoard 28 is holow and away from tho noto shoot, its aporturos hoing olosod by tho oovor 4] which thus provonts tho passago of any air through thoso aporturos to tho noto sounding moohanism. Whon it is dosirod to adapt tho moohanism to tho music shoot 20 titling tho traokor hoard 28, tho oovor it) is olosod down, tho supporting hlooks aro swung to 1 hr position shown in Fig. 2, and tho rovor H is thrown haok loaving tho traokor hoard 2K in position for tho now shoot. Should it ho dosirod to mako uso of additional trackor hoards, ono or hoth ol' tho hoards 27 and 2h may ho romovod l'l'om tho soats I! or It; and roplaood hy tho dosirod hoards. 'lho holdint si rows 12 and havo thoir hoods llzittofiod oil on ono sido as shown so that a hall' turn sullioos to roloaso tho hoards lrom'or soouro thom to thoir rospootivosoats.

ln ordor to provido moans for tho roady adjustmont ol' tho driving and rowilnil'ng' moohanism to tho varying widths of tho rolls oarnying tho noto shoots of dill'oront stand-- ards ol' sparing, tho onds of tho roll shal'ts SJ aro supportod -in adjustahlo sookots .H) and U]. in tho caso ol' tho sookots .HI, tho roll shalts Nit aro koyod or othorwiso sooui'od to it too driving and rowinding, tho sooloqts .H)

lUO

being held in the bushings 92 journaled in the upr ghts 21, and secured to the driving and rewlnding gears 25 and 26'1'espect1vely.

The length of the sockets 91 is sullicient to able means for securing the sockets in positron. The sockets 91 and the bushings 93 are of similar construction except that no provision for driving or rewinding need be made at these ends of the rolls, the sockets and bushings being preferably stationary and not rotating with the shafts.

The construction shown in'Figs. 5 and 6 operates substantially the same as that of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The two tracker boards in this case are joined in an integral structime 44, .each pair of apertures being connected by a channel .19 leading to a stem 46 to which the operating tube 47 is attached. The bandsor strips48 of rubber or other suitable material are supported on rods 18 in the uprigh ts 2i and so di iosed as to cover the face of Whichever board is out of use. The tracker board 44 may be replaced by one of similar construction by removing it from the swinging support 49. Figs. 7 and 8 show a construction substantially identical with that of Figs. 5 and 6 except that in this instance three tracker boards are joined in an integral structure 50 and a modified form of aperture cover 51 is used.

In the construction shown in Figs. 9 and. 10, the tracker boards 56 and 57 are arranged to slide in and out of operative position in the slots 58 and 59-provided in the supports 60, appurtenant to the uprights 21;

The bottom of each tracker board rests on the rockers 61 secured to the rock shaft '62 which is supported in. the uprights 21. The rockers 61 are provided with lugs 63 and 64 which act as stops to limit the movement of the rockers by coming in contact with the overhanging portions 72 on the support 60. (,onncction with the note sounding devices is made in a similar manner to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4, bymeans of forked rubber tubes which fit the stems 65 and 66 leading from the corresponding apertures 67 and 68 in the two tracker boards. The tracker board 56 is here shown in operative relation to the sheet 24 while the board 57 is in a lower position away from the sheet with its apertures closed by the swinging cover 70, pivoted on the rod 73 and held in place by the spring 71 whose other end is secured to the cover 69. When the cover is in the position shown, it prevents any upward movement of the board 57 and therefore serves to look all the parts in the operative position shown, since the board 56 cannot l move downward without communicating by means of the rocker 61 an upward movement to the board 57', and any movement in the opposite directionisprevented by the position of the lug 63 against the projection 72.

When it is desired to bring the tracker board 57 into 0 erative position, the cover 70 is pushed back, allowing the board to rise as the board 57 is pushed down, the cover 69 being drawn over the top of'the latter by the spring'71, as soon as it reaches its lowest position. Either tracker board may be removed entirely by releasing the tubes from their stems and. lifting the board out of the slots 58 and 59.- in Fig. -11 the tracker board 78 is stationary, bein secured to the uprights 2l, while the trac or board 77 is movable, being supported by the parallel links 80 secured to the ends of the boards 77 and 7 8 the latter having recesses 81 to per mit the necessary movement of the links. Springs 82 supported by the uprights 21 hold the tracker'board 77 either in or out of oper-.

ative position, the movement ofthe board 7.7 being limited in both dircctionsby contact with the board As the free adjustment of the links 80 is liable to permit some end movcment of the board 77 and thus interfere with the accurate registering of the note sheet over the apertures, the tongues-S7 secured to the board 77 are preferably provided which fit in. slots 86 in the board 78, and thus prevent any end ll inged covers 83 are provided to close the operative apertures when not in use. Connection with the operating devices is made by tubes in a similar manner to that described in Figs. 3, 4, 9 and 1(). hen it is desired to bring thc trackerboard 78 into operative position, the board 77 isp ushed down to its lowest position, thus leaving a free pas sage [or the note sheet over the top surface of the board 78.

I claim as my inv ention:-

l. The combination with note sheet mechanism, of a tracker board and means for mounting the tracker board to move it laterally into and away from operative relation to the note sheet. v

2. in combination with note sheet mechanism, of a plurality of tracker boards, mounted for movement into and out of operative relation lo the note sheet. p

3. The combination wit h note sheet mechanism, of a plurality of tracker boards, and means for mounting-the tracker boards to move either of them into and out of operative relation to the note sheet.

4. The combination with note sheet mechanism, of a tracker board mountcd lorswinging' movement into and out ol opelal ive relation to the note sheet.

5. Thecombination with nol-cs'hwl inrvhanism, of a plurality of i kor boards mounted for swinging mm'oimnl.'inlo and out of operative relation to the note sheet.

movement.

6. The coml'iination wit it note sheet mechanism, of a plurality of tracker boards, and means for mounting the said boards to more one of them into and another out of operative relation to thcnote sheet.

7. The combination with note sheet mechanism, of a plurality of tracker boards and a holder for receiving the-boards rnountcd to carry one of said boards into and another of said boards out of operative relation to the note sheet.

. 8. The C(Inbllhtiltlll with'note sheet mechanism, of a tracker board movable laterally into and away from contact with the note sheet, and means for covering the apertures of the tracker board when in its inoperative position.

9. The combination with n te sheet mechanism, of a plurality of tracker hoards, means for mounting the said boards to move either of them into "1d another out of operative rc- .lation to the notcsshect, and means for coverin; the tracker board apertures when out of rn'ierative relation to the sheet.

10. The combination with noteshcet incenanism, (of a plurality of tracker boards, a holder for supporting the plurality of boards,

means for siniultaneonsly moving either of said trackerboards into, and another board out. of operative relation to the note-sheet.

11. The combination with note SllOGtIllt't'lt- *anism, of a plurality of tracker boards, a'

holder therefor mounted for swinging movement to carry either of the said boardsinto, and the remaining board or boards out of operative relation to the note sheet, and means for COVGIiDg the aiertures of the unused boards when out o operative posi.v

tion.

12. In an instrument ofthe character referred to, a plurahty of movable trackers,

and means connected thereto for PI'OJOCtlIlg one' thereof into, and retracting another thereof out of, operative position.

13.v The comblnation ln-a music playing instrument, of a plurality of trackers,including a movable tracker, and means. for projeeting the movabletracker into-and out of operative position. a

14. The coinbination, with a musieplaying instrument, of a plurality of'traeke'rs, including a movable tracker, and means for transferring the control of thesaid instru-- .ment to any of said trackers.

15, The combination, with a music laying instrument, of a plurality of music sheets arranged in different scales, a plurality of trackers therefor, including a removable tracker and means for inter osin the a' row v 2- L prtate tracker between either music s root and the instrument.

l6. Theeombination, in a ,musicjplaying instrument, of a iurahty 10f trackers, including a rem ovab e tracker, a set of pneumatic, devices, and'means for transferring the control of the said of said trackers.

i7. The combination with music sheet mechanism, of a plurality of tracker boards and a holder for intei'clrangeably receiving andsupportingthepluralityot'trackerboards. its. 'lhe combination of a plurality of trackers, including a movable tracker, and means ior stopping air through the air apertures of either tracker.

19..ihe combination of a pluiu-ility of trackers, inclndinp a movable tracker, a series cl air apertures for each tracker, pneupneumatic devices to any communication matic devices for the trackers, and means for tracker, and l' or stop )ing air communication from the apertures o the other trackers.

22. The combimitionlof aplurality of trackers, including a movable tracker, each provided with a row of air apmtnres, a set.- of pneumatic valve actuating devices, and

from either row of tracker apertures independentlyof the other'row 1 j i 23. The combination of tracker devices provided with two rows of apertures, in-

eluding a movable tracker, thcapertures in the respective rows being formedon ditl'erent scales, aset of pneumatic valve actuating devices, and means for controlling said .pneu- .matic devices from either rowo'f said tracker apertures, independentl of thcother row.

- 24.v A tracker-device, raving a'plurahty of rows of air apertures, one of wh ch ismovablepthc apertures being formed on different scales for the-respective 'rows, pneumatic.

devices for connecting with the said aper-' tures, andmeans for separately shutting oi? the said rows of apertures from'the said pneumaticdevices. I 1

2f The eon'iblnation,

eluding a movable tracker havim in the respective. rows, pneumatic devices for the said apertures, and means for sepawith a series of prieumatieactions, of tracker devices, in-

a'plurality' 3 of rows of apertures ranged on d tierent scales lat-na or means for controlling said pneumatic. devices rately shutting oft" communication th-rou h" the respective rowsof apertures to the said 1 neumatics.

26. A tracker device mounted for swinging movement, and having-apluralityof rows of tracker apertures, pneumatic devices for communicating with the said apertures, and

means for se arately shutting off the communication t irough either row of apertures. 27. A tracker device mounted for swinging movement and having a plurality of rows of apertures ranged on different scales, in combination with flexible pipes connecting with the respective rows of apertures to permit of the said swinging movement.

28. A tracker device mounted for swinging movement, and having a plurality ofrows of apertures ranged on different scales, pneumatic devices, and flexible pipes'connecting the said pneumatic devices with the respectiverows of'apertures.

' 29. A tracker device mounted for swinging movement, and having a plurality of rows of of apertures in their respective operating posltlon.

31. A tracker mounted for swinging movement and provided with a plurality of rows of tracker apertures, means for registering the tracker at different portions of the swinging movement to bring the respective rows of apertures into operative position, and means for stopping air communication through the rows of apertures when out of operative position. I

' 32. A tracker device mounted for swinging movementand provided with a plurality of rows of tracker apertures, means for registering the tracker device at positions in its swinging movement with the rows of apertures at their respective operative positions, and means disposed at the inoperative'positions of the rows of apertures for stopping air communication through them when n those positions. x

Signed in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. JAMES OCONNOR.

Witnesses: I

ARTnURCoNRow,

/ E. DOBBIN. 

